Putin thinks Europe is weak, and this must change, says President Niinistö to Der Spiegel

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö expressed concern over a hostile atmosphere in Europe, amplified by hybrid warfare tactics, stating that Russia perceives the continent as weak. In an interview with Der Spiegel, Niinistö argued that Europe must change this perception and ensure it possesses the capability to inflict significant damage on Russia, particularly in the realm of hybrid warfare.

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Hybrid warfare knows no borders; the front line is everywhere.

Niinistö reiterated his call for resuming dialogue with Russia, citing two main reasons. Firstly, he pointed to the long-standing Russian desire to discuss the European security architecture, a topic raised with the U.S. in 2021 before the invasion of Ukraine and also discussed after a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Niinistö stressed that Europeans must be represented when their continent's security is debated.

Secondly, Niinistö considered the post-war period, predicting that any peace agreement with Ukraine would not satisfy Russia. He anticipates a hostile border running through Europe, similar to the post-World War II era. Niinistö believes Putin has become angrier towards Europe for its support of Ukraine and that Russia has demonstrated the potential damage it can inflict.

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Our first step should be to achieve a balance of terror by ensuring that we too can cause significant damage in hybrid warfare.

"Hybrid warfare knows no borders; the front line is everywhere," Niinistö stated. He proposed that Europe's first step should be to achieve a "balance of terror" by ensuring it can cause significant harm through hybrid means. Following this, discussions with Russia should commence on how to avoid conflicts during this hostile period, as Putin currently views Europe as weak.

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Putin thinks we are weak.